| Sensors monitor cold forming |
[Mar. 20th, 2007|05:48 pm] |
The use of cold forming processes, such as clinching and riveting, is replacing welding in the manufacture of an increasing number of sheet metal assemblies. Although used for many years, it is only recently that a real understanding of the forces needed for reliable plastic deformation of metals has made cold forming acceptable in the manufacture of quality components including car doors, bonnets and tailgates in both aluminium and steel. To eliminate faulty joins, Kistler has introduced systems using piezoelectric sensors to monitor the processes off-line and on-line.
On-line monitoring of the force needed for plastic deformation during the clinching process can detect wear in the clinching tool, punch or swage breakage, deviations in the dimensions or number of parts and incorrect machine setting. Continuous monitoring makes the clinching cycle transparent for QA recording and identifies any long-term changes in machine performance. Off-line checking of the clinching tongs using a Kistler hand-held calibration transmitter can be used to monitor and, if necessary, adjust the on-line system sensors.
A similar method can be applied to monitor pop and blind riveting machines to eliminate faults in the process. Data from the monitoring sensors can be fed to a central production control system or processed locally using Kistler CoMo Net or CoMo View process monitoring systems. Both systems can provide a signal to activate a faulty unit rejection mechanism.
Force monitoring of clinching and riveting processes eliminates faulty components from the production output to ensure a consistently high product quality. As the need for manual QA inspection is minimised, overall productivity is enhanced and costs minimised. |
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| Ultrasonic flowmeter is easy to install |
[Mar. 9th, 2007|08:11 am] |
Endress+Hauser's Prosonic Flow 92F is the world's first two-wire loop-powered inline ultrasonic flowmeter, offering easy electrical and mechanical installation with minimal space requirement and high accuracy. Ideal for use in compact process plants in the chemical industry, it is suitable for both conductive and non-conductive liquids and its two-wire loop powered configuration makes it intrinsically safe in compliance with ATEX. The Prosonic Flow F sensor is a multi-beam sensor consisting of a stainless steel sensor body, flanged process connections and two, three or four pairs of ultrasonic sensors located in arrays directly opposite each other.
The multi-beam sensor allows a fully comprehensive scan of the flow whilst also offering greater installation flexibility, as it can be used with short installation lengths.
The ultrasonic sensors are welded into the sensor body, eliminating the need for additional process gaskets.
Prosonic Flow 92F offers high accuracy (better than 0.5%, optional 0.3%) for cost-effective inline flow measurement.
The measurement requires no mechanical interaction with the flow, making it virtually maintenance-free and without an additional pressure drop.
The transmitter is easy to set up, so only the actual flow range must be defined. |
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| Machine Vision Systems Cut Processing Time |
[Aug. 11th, 2006|05:50 pm] |
A new generation of machine vision systems from Panasonic Aromat NAIS greatly reduces the processing time required by previous generations of image processing systems. The Panasonic PV300 machine vision system uses grey-scale/binary processing algorithms to perform image inspection functions even in the most demanding applications. Equipped with a dual processor (image processor plus RISC CPU) the optimised algorithms can now perform image processing functions up to 40 times faster than previous generations of system. With the ability to support up to four high-speed, high-resolution cameras, Panasonic PV300 Machine Vision System supports a variety of image processing functions. Contour matching provides stable position detection of an object shape among hidden and overlapping areas.
Smart matching provides detection of a registered template image within a search area to a sub-grey-scale pixel level, ideal for shape inspection and chip or flaw detection. Feature extraction is a high speed binary function used to detect objects and their features (eg area, co-ordinates etc) within a predefined area, suitable for object counting and positional requirements. Grey scale window and edge detection algorithms allow area and edge detection to be realised to a subpixel level, suitable for high-speed noncontact measurement and size detection. Finally, binary window and edge detection provide high-speed area and edge detection for less demanding measurement and size detection. A new user interface allows the easy configuration of the above functions via a high quality VGA display. Powerful communication interfaces allow the sharing of information via a 100Base-TX Ethernet connection, RS232C port or parallel I/O. Statistical application data can be stored via a CompactFlash card or analysed using Panasonic's Axtool Vision Support software.
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| Panel Meters Cost Less And Take Less Space |
[Aug. 4th, 2006|03:49 pm] |
Red Lion Controls' new CUB5 analogue panel meters are less expensive and less than half the size of most standard 1/8-DIN panel meters. Less panel space and the ability to use smaller enclosures make these meters the perfect solution for any budget. The Red Lion meters are packed full of features: the large 12mm display, optional single or dual setpoint control output modules and optional RS232 or RS485 communication modules allow them to handle even the most demanding applications. |
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